The Manatee Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has approved funding for the initial plans and design work to establish a Memorial Park to salute Veterans on a 24-acre piece of County-owned property at 5431 Buckeye Road in Palmetto. Plans call for permanent memorials paying respect to participants in every American-involved armed conflict, from the American Revolution through the Iraq War. Each branch of the armed services will be honored, as well as hometown heroes, women Veterans and the Manatee County Veteran of the Year. The proposed park would be built adjacent to a future school site along the south side of Buckeye Road. The south side of the park would be bordered by the Artisan Lakes subdivision. “This is going to be a park like no other,” said Manatee County At-Large Commissioner Jason Bearden, who made the initial motion to pursue further planning and design for the park. “Those that took the ultimate sacrifice deserve our best, and that’s what we’re doing here.” Initial designs have drawn inspiration from the Veteran Memorial Park and Museum off US 301 and the Tampa Bypass Canal in Hillsborough County, which includes 14 war memorials to past military engagements, such as the Vietnam War and World Wars I and II. The park also features walking trails, picnic pavilions and a Veterans’ resource center. The vote to move forward on the design and initial construction of the park was unanimous. Staff also has been instructed to seek out alternative funding sources, such as grants and other fundraising to help pay for the initiative. For up-to-date information about Manatee County Government, visit mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ManateeGov.